My Marine Corps aviation experience leaves me with a comment. The best aircraft had redundant systems. The old F-14 “Top Gun” Fighter had two engines. Not for distance flying but to survive battle damage. I think that is true of many military aircraft. The F-18 and the F-35 have single engines. I wonder why?
Thanks for reading, Chip. I would certainly agree with you. My grandpa flew a P38 in world war 2 and I know he was thankful for those twin engines, with the types of damage the aircraft would sustain. I'm sure, to your point, the bean counters feel differently. The F-35 in it's VTOL configuration has a single-engine designed to perform 2 jobs, thrust and lift... quite an engineering challenge.
I was thinking after writing this article, that it's interesting that our bodies use similar design principles... just enough redundancy without being overly complex. We have two eyes, two ears, two arms and legs.
I will tell my lovely fiancé hello, and hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
1. Nice piece of education - glad to know these safety protocols are in place!
2. I'd love to see your flight path from Toronto to Shanghai...did you get really close to the pole?
3. Seeing that photo of the silver plane and how it looks both dated and familiar makes me realize how much the look of planes has evolved even since we were first flying. I remember planes looking like that but it now seems so tin-can compared to all these sleek (wraps?)! Could be interesting to do a timeline of what it looked and felt like to fly in a plane - interior too (and evolving logos/design?).
My Marine Corps aviation experience leaves me with a comment. The best aircraft had redundant systems. The old F-14 “Top Gun” Fighter had two engines. Not for distance flying but to survive battle damage. I think that is true of many military aircraft. The F-18 and the F-35 have single engines. I wonder why?
Say hi to your lovely fiancé for me!
Uncle Chip
Thanks for reading, Chip. I would certainly agree with you. My grandpa flew a P38 in world war 2 and I know he was thankful for those twin engines, with the types of damage the aircraft would sustain. I'm sure, to your point, the bean counters feel differently. The F-35 in it's VTOL configuration has a single-engine designed to perform 2 jobs, thrust and lift... quite an engineering challenge.
I was thinking after writing this article, that it's interesting that our bodies use similar design principles... just enough redundancy without being overly complex. We have two eyes, two ears, two arms and legs.
I will tell my lovely fiancé hello, and hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
Personally I would not call my second leg "redundant," but maybe that's just me!
1. Nice piece of education - glad to know these safety protocols are in place!
2. I'd love to see your flight path from Toronto to Shanghai...did you get really close to the pole?
3. Seeing that photo of the silver plane and how it looks both dated and familiar makes me realize how much the look of planes has evolved even since we were first flying. I remember planes looking like that but it now seems so tin-can compared to all these sleek (wraps?)! Could be interesting to do a timeline of what it looked and felt like to fly in a plane - interior too (and evolving logos/design?).